Influence Alley

Good morning, Alley readers. Here are the early headlines. 

Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the new chairman of the Republican Study Committe, is coming under fire on the right, Roll Call reports. 

President Obama is using a two-pronged approach to the fiscal cliff talks: balancing his public campaign with his private negotiations with GOP leaders, the Associated Press writes.

Republicans are questioning the need for more than $60 million in Sandy aid, The Hill reports.

House and Senate farm bill leaders are meeting today over the stalled legislation, Politico reports.